Monday, the 19th of January, 1656.
Union with Ireland.
MR. Robinson reports from the Grand Committee
upon the Bill for Uniting Ireland into one Commonwealth with England, That the said Grand Committee do desire the House will appoint another Day for the
said Grand Committee to sit.
Ordered, That the House be resolved into a Grand
Committee, upon the said Bill for Uniting Ireland into one
Commonwealth with England, on Wednesday Morning
next.
Union with Scotland.
Ordered, That the House be resolved into a Grand
Committee, upon the Bill for Uniting Scotland into one
Commonwealth with England, on Friday Morning next.
Buck's Petition.
The humble Petition of John Buck Esquire, was this
Day read.
Ordered, That this Petition be referred to the Committee to whom the Petition of Mr. Scott is referred: And
that this Committee, as to this Business, have Power to
send for Persons, Papers, Witnesses, and Records: And
that it be referred to this Committee to prepare a Bill,
and present it to this House, concerning Divorces and
Alimony; and in whom it is fit to place the same.
Oxford University.
The humble Petition of the University of Oxford, was
this Day read.
Ordered, That this Petition be referred to the Committee to whom the Petition of Corpus Christi College
in Oxford is referred.
Conspiracy against the Protector.
Mr. Secretary made a Relation of a wicked Design to
take away the Lord Protector's Life, and to fire Whitehall; and presented the Examinations of John Cecill and
John Toope, taken upon Oath before Francis White and
William Jesop Esquires, Two of his Highness's Justices
of the Peace for the Liberty of Westminster: Which were
read.
Mr. Secretary also made another Relation of another
Design; and presented the Examination of John Rogers,
of the Tower of London, Gentleman, taken upon Oath
the Eighth Day of December 1656, before Sir John
Barkstead Knight: Which was read:
And the Examination of Sir Thomas Peyton, taken the
Eighth of December 1656: Which was also read: Which
Examinations were delivered back to Mr. Secretary, by
Order.
Resolved, That a Day be appointed for publick Thanksgiving to God for this Discovery and great Deliverance.
The Question being propounded, That To-morrow
Sevennight be the Day for London, Westminster, and the
late Lines of Communication;
And the Question being put, That this Question be
now put;
It passed with the Negative.
Resolved, That Friday come Three Weeks being the
Thirteenth of February next, be the Day for publick
Thanksgiving for England, Scotland, and Ireland.
Resolved, That the Place for Keeping of the Day of
publick Thanksgiving by this House shall be at Margarett's, Westminster.
Resolved, That Mr. Gelaspy be desired to preach before
this House at Margarett's, Westminster, on Friday Three
Weeks; being a Day set apart for publick Thanksgiving.
Ordered, That the Lord Cockram be desired to give
him Notice hereof.
Ordered, That Mr. Warren be desired to preach before
this House at Margarett's, Westminster, on Friday Three
Weeks, being a Day set apart for publick Thanksgiving.
Ordered, That Major-General Haynes do give him
Notice hereof.
Ordered, That a Committee be appointed, to prepare
a Narrative of the Grounds and Reasons for setting apart
Friday Three Weeks a Day for publick Thanksgiving:
Viz. Mr. Secretary, Lord Commissioner Whitelock, Sir
Wm. Strickland, Lord Commissioner Fiennes, General
Disbrow, Sir Charles Wolsley, Lord Broghill, Colonel
Philip Jones: And that this Declaration be brought in
on Wednesday Morning next.
Resolved, That this House do wait upon his Highness
the Lord Protector, to congratulate with his Highness
for this great Mercy and Deliverance.
Resolved, That the Committee appointed to prepare
the Narrative of the Grounds and Reasons for setting
apart Friday Three Weeks for publick Thanksgiving, do
attend his Highness the Lord Protector, to desire his
Highness to appoint a Time when this House may attend
on his Highness upon this Occasion.
Militia.
Resolved, That the Debate upon the Bill for Continuing
and Assessing of a Tax for Maintaining of the Militia
Forces, formerly adjourned to this Day, be adjourned
until To-morrow Morning, the first Business; nothing
to intervene.